Chapter 5: Nighttime Makes Things Easier

Chapter 5: Nighttime Is Convenient for Action

Tonight, Serpentine was in a foul mood. She smashed everything in her tent that could be broken, venting her frustration until she finally ordered her maid to prepare hot water for a bath. The events of the day replayed in her mind, filling her with rage. After scolding her subordinates once more, she finally went to bathe.

Relaxing in the hot water, Serpentine’s thoughts returned to the day’s happenings. She had planned to use the authority of the three great sorcerers to force Serpentfire to hand over the clanswoman with Medusa’s blood, intending to keep the girl under house arrest to prevent her bloodline from awakening. For Serpentine herself harbored the Medusa bloodline—an open secret known only to her. If she could awaken it and become the new Medusa Queen, the entire serpent tribe would fall under her rule. For this, she had struck a secret deal with the Beast Emperor, trading for two elite Shadow Guards—a price that still made her heart ache. But if she could just succeed, all would be worth it. At that thought, Serpentine smiled; she would make everyone pay her back double for today’s humiliation.

Yet all her plans were foiled by a nameless man. Serpentine muttered to herself, “Just you wait, boy. I’ll capture you one day and make you my slave!” With that, she closed her eyes, stretching languidly in the pool and reaching for the wine left on the edge.

Suddenly, she felt someone help her by handing her the wine cup. She took a sip, then turned and commanded, “Massage my back.”

Warm hands slid down her shoulders, a pleasant heat spreading along her skin. A sigh of pleasure escaped her lips, but the hands seemed to pause for a moment. Annoyed, Serpentine grunted. Then a strange voice whispered into her ear, “Beautiful Serpentine Chieftain, shall I continue?”

Her eyes flew open, and she spun around, only to have her arms twisted behind her back. She tried to summon her battle energy, only to find it unresponsive—shock and fury flared in her eyes as she recognized her tormentor.

Ye Tian grinned impudently. “Comfortable?”

Serpentine’s voice was cold. “Why are you here? Where are my guards?”

He replied, “Didn’t you want to capture me as your slave? I came to offer myself; why aren’t you welcoming me?”

Serpentine struggled, but Ye Tian sighed, “Stop resisting. I won’t hurt you. I just want you to agree to one thing.”

She stilled. “What is it?”

“Help the Serpentfire tribe,” Ye Tian said, his eyes unblinking.

“No!” Serpentine snapped.

“Why not? Isn’t it good for your tribe to have another strong warrior?” he pressed.

“I said no, and that’s final!”

“If you don’t agree, I’ll kill you,” Ye Tian threatened, his voice icy.

Serpentine sneered. “You?”

Ye Tian hesitated, feeling her wrists slip from his grasp. In a flash, her arms wrapped around his neck, squeezing until he could barely breathe. Twisting his wrist into a crane’s beak, he struck her elbow hard, forcing her to loosen her grip. He ducked, slipped free from her arms, and quickly twisted her wrists behind her back, interlacing her fingers with his to pin her.

Ye Tian breathed a sigh of relief; he had underestimated the people of this world. Serpentine gave another struggle, and he growled, “Resist again and I’ll really kill you!”

Suddenly, Serpentine’s voice softened, sultry, “Would you really be willing to kill me?”

Ye Tian started to protest, but noticed her face flush, her eyes misty and alluring. He found himself drawn in, his mind growing hazy.

“Do you think I’m beautiful?” she cooed, her words laced with enchantment.

“Yes,” Ye Tian answered unconsciously.

“Then let me go, won’t you?” she purred, twisting her pale body.

“All right,” he replied.

Serpentine smirked—men were all the same. Just as Ye Tian was about to release her, he caught her mocking smile and snapped back to his senses, quickly averting his gaze and tightening his grip.

A flash of pain broke Serpentine’s seductive spell, and Ye Tian’s mind cleared. He glared at her with a surge of anger, tightening his hold until she nearly cried out. He hurriedly covered her mouth with his hand.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain—Serpentine was biting him. Furious, he bit down on one of her soft, quivering peaks. She bit harder. Ye Tian retaliated, biting gently at the rosy tip, making her eyes widen in shock.

He looked up and threatened, “Let go! If you don’t, I’ll bite it off!” He bent down again, and she hastily released his hand.

He pulled his hand back but then thought better of it. “No screaming, no tricks, or you know the consequences.” His eyes flicked meaningfully to her chest. Serpentine trembled but nodded.

Ye Tian let go, eyeing the red crescent of teeth marks on his hand. “Were you a dog in your past life?”

She glared. “I’ll kill you!”

He shrugged. “Whatever. Now, are you ready to tell me why you don’t want the Serpentfire tribe to awaken their Medusa?”

She turned away, refusing to answer. Ye Tian studied the resentment in her eyes and asked, “Is it because you, too, have the Medusa bloodline?”

Serpentine’s body trembled. Ye Tian smiled.

“I think we can discuss my proposal now,” he said.

She remained silent.

“I’ve heard that those with this bloodline cannot lose their virginity before awakening, or else they’ll never awaken at all. Is that true, my beautiful chieftain?”

Serpentine quivered, her voice shaking as she saw Ye Tian’s gaze fixed on her body. “What do you want?”

He grinned. “What do you think?” He seized one of her trembling breasts, kneading it lightly.

“No!” she pleaded.

He continued, “I really don’t want to, but what choice do I have? Besides, you’re not ugly—I’m not exactly losing out.”

Fear rose in Serpentine’s heart at the sensation, panic welling up inside. If she really lost her purity to Ye Tian, all her ambitions would be for nothing. She writhed, desperate to break free.

Suddenly, Ye Tian said, “If you consider my proposal, I’ll let you go. How about it?”

She hesitated. Ye Tian took advantage, his mouth closing around her rosy tip, stirring it gently.

Serpentine’s resolve collapsed. “I agree! I agree! I’ll do anything you want!”

“Now that’s more like it.” He started to rise, and she secretly sighed with relief.

But Ye Tian murmured, “Hmm, something’s not right.” He glanced at her and grinned slyly.

She tensed. “What now?”

He smiled. “Nothing much. I just feel like I’m at a disadvantage.”

She snarled, “What do you want, then?”

He replied, “Just a bit of insurance, so I can relax.” Without waiting for her response, he said cheerfully, “Come on, open up.”

She obediently opened her mouth, and he quickly slipped a pill inside, pressing her throat so she swallowed it.

“What did you give me?” she spat furiously.

“Something good—a Bone-Eating Heart Pill. You’ll feel something special soon enough. The antidote is in three parts: one for you, one for Serpentfire, and one with me. Don’t try to seek help from anyone else, or your early death will have nothing to do with me.” He set a small bottle by the poolside. “Take this again in a year. Otherwise, you’ll run out.”

He released her, and she slumped, a hollow defeat in her posture.

Ye Tian sighed. “Don’t be so down. If Serpentfire doesn’t awaken her bloodline before you, you still have a chance. Oh, and your sorcerers already know about the Shadow Guards.”

Serpentine was stunned. “Impossible!”

“I visited them before coming here. They told me everything.”

She muttered, “Impossible… It can’t be…”

“Possible or not, it doesn’t matter. Train hard—maybe you’ll still achieve your dream.”

With that, Ye Tian leapt out of the pool, paused to admire Serpentine’s beauty, and clicked his tongue. “What a shame.” Using his inner strength, he dried his clothes in a cloud of white mist; as the steam dissipated, he vanished without a trace.

Serpentine roared after him, “I’ll kill you! Ah…” But then she realized, with a heavy heart, that she didn’t even know his name.